August 13th, 2014

The IRB has received several requests to allow the use of external research nurses who have contracted with a study sponsor to conduct research procedures with participants in their homes. The external research nurses would report to the local site PI in order to conduct procedures with locally enrolled participants.

In these cases, the external research nurses are considered to be engaged in research and require IRB approval for their activities.  However, because they are external to the University of Utah and have contracted with the study sponsor, the University of Utah IRB approval does not cover their activities.  If you wish to use external research nurses with any of your existing or upcoming research projects, you must provide documentation of IRB approval for the external research nurses before the University of Utah IRB will approve this for your projects.